Tread Lightly Caravan

Learning comes to life when classroom learning connects with real-world experiences! 📚 🌿

Ahead of their visit from the Tread Lightly Caravan, students at Sutton Park School created their own environmental booklets to explore sustainability and caring for the environment. Our educators were blown away by the mahi of the students!

The tamariki were excited to discover that many of the topics they had been learning about in class were brought to life through the interactive activities and exhibits inside the caravan. Seeing those connections between classroom learning and hands-on experiences sparked plenty of curiosity and discussion.

A big thank you to Auckland Airport Community Trust, who fully funded the Tread Lightly Caravan visit, making this valuable learning opportunity possible for Sutton Park School students 💙💚

What a fantastic day of learning at the Auckland Botanic Gardens 🌿💧

Students from Weymouth School, Everglade School and Reremoana School recently took part in the Spongy Schools, Spongy Cities education programme, thanks to the Wai Project funded through Auckland Council's Sustainable Schools Auckland.

Throughout the day, tamariki explored the causes and impacts of flooding, learned about the important role stormwater and drainage infrastructure can play in our cities, and discovered how communities can help reduce flood risk. From planting more trees and vegetation to creating spaces where water can soak into the ground, students gained valuable insights into how nature-based solutions can help build more resilient communities.

It was an engaging and hands-on experience that empowered our young people to think about the role they can play in caring for our environment and waterways.

A big thank you to Auckland Council's Sustainable Schools Auckland team for making this experience possible 💙

This is why we do it 💚

We LOVE delivering our environmental education programme but what we love more is receiving feedback like this. It was such a pleasure to be at Jean Batten School the other week, the kaiako and tamariki approached each of our exhibits with eager hearts and open minds.

Thank you for taking up the challenge to tread lightly, Jean Batten School. Because of your continued mahi, we're collectively making our environment better, one step at a time 🌿🌏

Thanks again to the Auckland Airport Community Trust who fully funded this opportunity 💚

Canon ANZ Oceania Grants Programme – Applications Open Now! 📢

Looking for funding to support your school or community project? This year, $20,000 in grants will be awarded across four categories:
• Education
• Community
• Environment
• Cultural

Each recipient will receive $5,000 in cash and Canon products to help share their story and grow their impact 💚

To mark the programme’s 20th anniversary, one New Zealand recipient will also receive a content creation package valued at up to $2,000.

Submissions are open now via https://www.canon.co.nz/about-canon/community/grants

Applications close 11:59pm Sunday 14 June 2026.

Canon has been alongside us for many years, and their support has been huge. They provide the cameras, printers and printing for our Tread Lightly pledges, which helps us take environmental education from the classroom into homes. This support helps us reach more families and grow our impact.

Big ups to our tamariki in Manurewa 🙌

The Tread Lightly team, with support from , has installed LittaTraps at three local schools to help stop rubbish from reaching our awa 🌊

These clever devices catch waste before it flows through stormwater drains. From there, we can see what’s ending up in the system and work alongside schools to find simple ways to stop it at the source.

Ka pai to everyone involved in protecting te taiao 💚

Check out the Tread Lightly team in action with Everglade School 📸

What a great start to Term 2 with Pinehurst School 🌱

Tread Lightly has been lucky to work alongside such awesome tamariki and their whaanau. From getting hands-on with microscopes to exploring the role of bees and worms, these future kaitiaki are learning how small creatures make a big difference for te taiao.

Ka Pai, Pinehurst 👏

If your school is keen to get involved, we’ve got one space left for Term 3. Get in touch to book your spot! [email protected]

Want a way to get the kids outside, off screens and into a real-life treasure hunt these school holidays? 🌿

EcoFest and Geocaching have got you sorted! A real-life treasure hunt happening all around you. Using the free app, you'll find clues and coordinates to find hidden "caches" tucked away in parks, reserves and even your own neighbourhood!

Keep an eye out for the limited-edition EcoFest trackables hidden in caches around Tāmaki Makaurau. Each trackable unlocks a sustainability mission that guides you on eco-friendly adventures, the perfect whānau outing!

Check out more 👇🏻